We'd like to win some silverware, says Cray Valley boss Steve Chapman

CRAY VALLEY (Paper Mills) manager Steve Chapman says he wants to win some silverware this season.

The Millers were dumped out of The FA Carlsberg Vase after losing a 210 minute battle against Combined Counties League leaders South Park.

Chapman’s side came away from Reigate with a 1-1 draw after extra time at the weekend, but went down to a 3-2 home defeat last night.

The Millers went into the final six minutes with a 2-1 lead, courtesy of Adam Gross’s free-kick and Michael McKenna drive, but two goals within three minutes from South Park substitute Kieran Lavery (one a penalty) gave the visitors’ a home tie against lower-league Eastbourne United on 7 December.

Cray Valley travel to Phoenix Sports on Saturday, looking to get their league season back on track, after losing their eleven-match unbeaten run last night.

Cray Valley are in eighth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League table with 18 points from 10 games.

Phoenix Sports, meanwhile, are in third-place in their inaugural campaign at this level after winning the Kent Invicta League title last season and have collected 25 points from 14 games.

“We need to pick the boys up, their heads are down at the moment,” said Chapman.

“We’ve got a good camaraderie within the squad at the moment so I don’t think it will take too much to pick their heads up.

“We’re strong away, we’re strong at home. At least we can get back to the league – we haven’t played a league game for a few weeks now. We’ve got a bit of catching up to do.

“Phoenix will be a very tough game for us. They’ve come up and surprised a few teams this year so we’ll have to be on our guard if we want to come away with any points.”

The Millers are ten points adrift of league leaders Tunbridge Wells at present but the Eltham-based outfit do have two games in hand over Martin Larkin’s side.

“The league is very open this year but also I think we’ve got some very good teams in the league and that’s born out by how many teams are still left in the Vase – I think ithere’s five teams left in the Vase.

“It’s going to be tough but the league won’t be won by a team losing just one or two games this year – it will be five or six games.”

Cray Valley have scooped a total of £3,800 in prize money from the two big FA competitions.

When asked what last night’s Vase exit will mean to the club, Chapman replied: “Financially it doesn’t mean too much because we’ve won three games in The FA Vase and a match in The FA Cup so I’d like to think we’ve done our bit this season to bring some revenue into the club.

“It would have been nice to win another £1,200 (in prize money last night) but at the end of the day it wasn’t to be.”

Cray Valley will make the short trip to Park View Road to play their Conference Premier neighbours Welling United in the London Senior Cup Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding Second Round next Wednesday, 27 November.

The Wings have slipped down to 12^th place in the table and look forward to a trip to League Two Plymouth Argyle in The FA Cup Second Round on 7 December after the Devon club beat Lincoln City 5-0 in their midweek replay.

“We’re looking forward to the Welling game,” said Chapman, who will take his side to either Tooting & Mitcham United or Thamesmead Town in the London Senior Cup Quarter-Finals should they beat the Wings.

“I’ve just said to the lads we will be treating that game very, very seriously. I owe it to the boys. We’ve got a squad this season that we’d like to win some silverware.

“The London Senior Cup is a very tough competition to win but at the same time some of the bigger clubs in the early rounds put weakened teams out so we’ll look to enjoy the night and win the game.

“It’s going to be difficult. We’ve won a lot of trophies when we were in the intermediate level and we never envisaged winning anything at senior level in the first few years so if we can bring something back it will be fantastic.”

Visit Cray Valley’s website: www.cray-valley.co.uk

Phoenix Sports  v  Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
Southern Counties East Football League
Saturday 23^rd November 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Phoenix Sports Ground, Mayplace Road East, Barnehurst, Kent DA7 6JT